Skip to main content

Rising awareness of car sharing concept set to increase uptake

According to Frost and Sullivan, whilst car sharing as a concept has existed for several years, the uptake rates and emergence of new players in the traditional as well as peer to peer (P2P) car sharing market has proliferated in the last five years. Member numbers increased by over 90 per cent between 2008 and 2012, growing from 500,000 to over 940,000 and, says Frost & Sullivan, this trend is set to continue. In an forthcoming web conference, Car Sharing – The Voice of the Consumer, on Tuesday, 14 May 201
May 7, 2013 Read time: 3 mins
According to Frost and Sullivan, whilst car sharing as a concept has existed for several years, the uptake rates and emergence of new players in the traditional as well as peer to peer (P2P) car sharing market has proliferated in the last five years. Member numbers increased by over 90 per cent between 2008 and 2012, growing from 500,000 to over 940,000 and, says Frost & Sullivan, this trend is set to continue.

In an forthcoming web conference, Car Sharing – The Voice of the Consumer, on Tuesday, 14 May 2013, at 3.00 p.m. BST, Frost & Sullivan mobility programme manager, Mr Martyn Briggs, and programme manager, Mr Mohamed Mubarak, will present the latest findings from a customer research study on consumer profiles of members currently using car sharing services, including their preferences and aspirations for the car sharing concept in future. The idea of this voice of the consumer study was also to understand from non-members what would encourage them to join such new mobility services, as well as their idea of a ‘winning concept’.

A targeted survey of over 2,300 people was conducted in a total of 12 cities in the UK (London, Manchester, Birmingham, and Edinburgh), France (Paris, Lyon, Marseille, and Toulouse), and Germany (Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, and Cologne). The study used the ‘adaptive choice based conjoint’ methodology that enables the possibility to create different simulations of car sharing models and generate the respective pricing and market share. The web conference will now give an overview regarding transport usage and commuting profiles, the customer’s/member’s perspective on the current and future usage of car sharing services and the willingness to pay for the service, existing car sharing member profiles, as well as familiarity, interest and adoption amongst non-members.

“Our research revealed a potential for over 15 million car sharing members in Europe alone by 2020, but there is a lot of education and behavioural change amongst consumers’ mobility patterns that need to take place to achieve such growth,” outlines Mr Briggs. “The voice of the consumer survey yielded interesting results; for example, the majority of car sharing members (53 per cent) were under 34, degree educated (67 per cent), and did not own a car (51 per cent).”

The survey also illustrates that the market for P2P car sharing is still in its nascent stage and is expected to co-exist with traditional car sharing. The interest in using someone else's car is higher than the interest to providing own car to be used by others. Surprisingly, there exists a correlation between the interest in becoming a car sharing member and the interest in providing the own car to be used by others.

From those of the whole sample, who currently own a car and are considering joining a car sharing service, over 40 per cent would consider selling their vehicle. This underlines the continued downward trend in car ownership in major cities that adopt car sharing services.

To participate in the complementary web conference, or receive a recorded version of the briefing, please email full contact details to Katja Feick at katja.feick@frost.

Related Content

  • LiDAR sets its sights on future problems
    February 23, 2017
    AAdvances in LiDAR are helping transport authorities improve services and identify potential problem areas, as geospatial technology expert Dr Neil Slatcher explains. The effects of climate change on the transport infrastructure have long been a cause of concern within the transportation sector - and not only on the structures themselves but also on the surrounding areas. This year, those concerns have become reality with landslides, structural collapses and surfacing issues impacting services across the wo
  • Collaborations with technology providers offer European automotive OEMs new growth opportunities
    January 3, 2017
    Improvements in advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) sensors are driving automation features in original equipment manufacturer (OEM) vehicles, according to Frost & Sullivan’s new research, Market Analysis of Premium European OEMs ADAS and Automated Driving Strategies. By collaborating with leading technology providers in the autonomous driving space, OEMs have an opportunity to transform into mobility service providers and introduce levels 4 and 5 autonomous cars earlier than expected. With several
  • The stage is set for an unforgettable experience
    April 16, 2024
    Welcome to Intertraffic Amsterdam 2024 - a showcase of innovation, collaboration, and inspiration. From groundbreaking technologies to visionary ideas, this event sets the stage for a future where mobility is not just smart, safe, and sustainable — but transformative. It’s showtime, and the stage is set for an unforgettable experience.
  • Europe's electronic toll service closer to operational reality
    November 7, 2012
    After much debate and delay, a unifying European Electronic Toll Service is now finally on the horizon, says ASFiNAG’s Klaus Schierhackl. Here, he talks with Jason Barnes about what that might mean. Aworkable European Electronic Toll Service (EETS) which will allow truck drivers to travel across the continent and pay tolls using a single account and OnBoard Unit (OBU) was originally timetabled to be in place and operating by October of this year. A lack of urgency from some of the stakeholders involved in t